Fun, fitness and rehabilitation services at Augusta K9 Center

STAUNTON — Darcy was dumped on a road in Virginia Beach when Compassion for Canines found her. Overbred with a ton of C-section scars, she no longer had use of her back legs. She’s not paralyzed, said Robin Stanley, who adopted her in December. She just can’t use them due to an injury.

“They're of no use to them, so they pitched her,” said Stanley. “She's a French bulldog, and sometimes they over-breed them so much. They try to make them smaller and more compact.”

The over-breeding of "Frenchies" cause many health issues, from breathing problems to how prone they are to suffer major injuries by something as minor as bumping into a corner too quickly.

“My son-in-law is a vet and we're guessing it's probably a slipped disc," said Stanley. "Like she was thrown or hit something. And with them, it's a major deal.”

Darcy is somewhere between 4- and 5-years-old and uses a wheelchair. Stanley drives an hour and half from her home in Linden to Augusta K9 Center in Staunton so that Darcy can receive the therapy she needs to get better. Since starting in February, she’s already starting to stand a little more and take a few steps.

“That was my goal to kind of build up some strength in those back muscles because they'll just atrophy if you don't,” said Stanley.

Stanley had just lost their last dog when they rescued Darcy, and it took the family time to grieve, she said, before deciding to adopt her. "She’s home and quite happy," she said. Rather than put Darcy through an expensive surgery that might not even help, Stanley did some research when she found Augusta K9 Center.

“It’s really helping her a lot,” said Stanley. “She feels good. She has more use of her back legs, she's building up muscle. She's a spitfire let me tell you. I saw improvement after the first few sessions just because she has a desire to move also.”

Augusta K9 Center rehabilitation services

Augusta K9 Center’s focus is land therapy and hydrotherapy for injuries, weight loss, puppy swims and geriatric support. Owner Amanda Martz-Hardy opened the center in the early days of the pandemic in 2020 after working eight years in surgery at Virginia Veterinary Specialists. A licensed veterinary technician for over 10 years and a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner, she s helping fill a gap in post operative and post injury care.

“It is definitely my passion,” said Martz-Hardy. “It's been incredibly rewarding to be able to not only offer and guide owners correctly postoperatively and post injury in the right direction during a recovery for their pets, but also to offer a low impact exercise, especially for geriatric dogs.”

A lot of the center’s geriatric dogs come and swim twice a week. “We are helping dogs live longer, so it's pretty rewarding to see how much an older dog changes just after a few swims.”

They’re walking up the stairs better, they feel better, they have more energy, her clients tell her.

“I have a lot of rehab cases that I've worked with over the years that came to me whether they just had a back injury or a neck injury, and have gone from not walking to walking again.”

Inside the center’s facilities are two swimming pools and therapeutic rooms dedicated to one-on-one rehabilitative services. The center also offers cart fittings for mobility kits, brace castings, acupuncture, electrical muscle stimulation, joint supplements, anti-inflammatories, and more.

“It's really a multi-modal approach as far as extending our pets' lives and helping them improve muscle function and mobility," said Martz-Hardy. "Adding in a hydrotherapy program or a swim to that is extremely beneficial as a low impact exercise.”

Outside of injuries and exercise, the center is also a safe environment to teach new puppies how to swim.

“Owners just want them to be safe when they're at the lake or the beach, so we’ll teach them how to swim and then send them on their way.”

It’s only been a few years since Augusta K9 Center opened but in that time the team has grown to six people that feel more like an extended family for clients and their pets.

Annabelle comes for muscle strengthening and mobility

Annabelle has been swimming with Augusta K9 Center for a few years now. When she first started, she wasn't able to walk very well and needed a wagon due to having three legs and hip dysplasia. Now, she's strong and loves to swim, said Rachel Smitton, lead canine hydrotherapy coach who oversees all aspects of the center's hydrotherapy programs.

The swimming is a good low-impact exercise that helps with muscle strengthening and mobility, said Smitton.

Plus, she loves it and the people at the K9 center said her owner, Gayleen Smyth. During a swim session, Smyth stands nearby smiling while Annabelle is focused on swimming to the tennis ball thrown across the pool. She stops for a moment to check in with mom before swimming to the spot where she is supposed to release the ball.

Lila comes to use up some of that young playful energy

Lila is a young and healthy dog who comes to Augusta K9 Center to get some exercise, get out of the house, and use up some of that playful energy. Her owner, Dr. Patrick Robertson is a veterinarian at the emergency hospital in Verona and likes to bring her for a swim a couple times a week.

Augusta K9 Center hopes to help pets in the Shenandoah Valley and surrounding areas, who can benefit from additional exercise and rehabilitation.

"This naturally includes all pets, young and old that are needing of any additional fitness regimen. But most importantly being able to help your pets who have had an injury or are recently healing from post-operative surgery," said Martz-Hardy.

Located at 460 Commerce Road in Staunton, you can reach Augusta K9 Center at 540-699-3971. To learn more, visit https://AugustaK9Center.com.

More: When is the solar eclipse in Staunton? Search by ZIP code

More: Staunton receives J&DR Courthouse bids

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Animal welfare: Augusta K9 Center provides rehabilitation services